10 STEPS GREAT SPONSOR TO BEING A

By Amanda Hester, Program Assistant, Fleet and Family Support Center

Relocation can be a stressful experience for anyone moving to a new country, but a sponsor can smooth a military or civilian member's transition to the new community, making it an enjoyable and positive experience. The Fleet and Family Support Center is here to help Team Souda members be great sponsors. Whether you are a new sponsor and aren’t sure where to start, or you have been a sponsor many times before and need to sharpen your skills, we will give you the tools to be a successful sponsor. With these steps, you can give a warm Team Souda welcome to your newcomers and get them started off on the right foot! If you would like to set up a training or get more information, contact Amanda Hester by visiting the Fleet and Family Support Center in Building 11 or calling 266-1688.

1

SPONSORSHIP TRAINING

The Fleet and Family Support Center provides a 1-hour Sponsorship Training to guide and support you to be sure you are giving your newcomer the most accurate information available. We can meet with you one-on-one or in a group – contact us to sign up!

2

SPONSORSHIP RESOURCES

Once you have completed our Sponsorship Training, you will have access to our Sponsorship Resources library on our public shared folder to reference when you have a question regarding the newcomer’s transition. This include the Sponsor Training Document, which details common practices and information to relay to your newcomer. These documents are updated regularly, so be sure to check them prior to each sponsorship assignment!

3

WELCOME LETTER

We will provide you with a Welcome Letter that you will send to your newcomer to introduce yourself as their sponsor. The letter will direct them to the installation’s Welcome Aboard Guide, which is full of information to guide them through their transition and answer their questions.

4

NEEDS ASSESSMENT

The Needs Assessment Form is a place for your newcomer to list their basic pertinent information to assess their immediate basic needs. The form will help them identify the information they need for their situation, such as schooling, housing, childcare, finances, or driving a manual or automatic transmission vehicle.

5

FOLLOW A CHECKLIST

Your newcomer will have certain tasks to complete at specific times through the process. Don’t worry about remembering them or when they are due – because we have developed a checklist of items for each stage of transition that your newcomer will be going through. Referring to this checklist often will ensure that you are prepared to overcome any obstacles that may arise and prevent any items from being overlooked in the sponsorship process. This will be one of the best tools that you will have to help you manage the transition process for your newcomer.

6

BE ENTHUSIASTIC!

NSA Souda Bay is in such a beautiful location that you will not have to do much convincing that Greece is an amazing place. Answering your newcomer’s questions with you own experiences about the local area, food, shopping, beaches and travel ideas will have them excited to join Team Souda before they even board the plane!

7

PEER SPONSORS

Your peers who have been sponsors before are a great resource. Ask them for hard to find information about the local area that may be difficult for you to find on your own, such as schools, neighborhoods, and local travel spots. If you don’t know anyone who has been sponsor, we can connect you with the installation command sponsor. Giving the newcomer clear and unbiased information will help them determine how to make their bigger decisions, such as deciding which household items to bring and which ones to store. Be there to guide and stay informed throughout the process.

8

BE OBJECTIVE

Giving the newcomer clear and unbiased information will help them determine how to make their bigger decisions, such as deciding which household items to bring and which ones to store. Be there to guide and stay informed throughout the process.

9

BE KNOWLEDGEABLE

Stay in the know! Make sure the information you are providing is correct or verified – especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowing Greece’s travel requirements and the installation’s policies for Restriction of Movement upon arrival and social distancing measures will ensure that there is no confusion during transit and arrival. Check the NSA Souda Bay Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NSASoudaBay for the current information.

10

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

Having an open line of communication is one of the best things you can do for your newcomer. Be responsive to their questions and if you don’t know the answer, let them know what you are doing to find out for them. Be available to talk to them – this may mean taking the initiative to schedule phone or video calls that work into both of your schedules. It can be a challenging time for them and an open line of communication can make all of the difference!